Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Wang Kun had originally thought the emperor summoning him to the hall was to back him up and punish that Lu kid. He'd even deliberately arranged to be carried in on a stretcher, just to play the victim for the emperor.

But the moment he appeared, the emperor pointed at him and cursed: "You broke your third leg, not the ones you walk on. Who's the show for?"

Startled, Wang Kun scrambled off the stretcher and prostrated himself before the emperor, asking: "Your Majesty, this humble minister... I don't know what I did wrong?"

"What did you do wrong? You're asking me? You got no eyes? Can't you see for yourself?"

The emperor was clearly livid—so livid he fired off four questions in a row before grabbing his fan and smashing a bloody gash into Wang Kun's head.

Wang Kun didn't dare cry. He picked up a memorial, took one look, and shuddered in terror. Banging his head on the floor, he shouted: "Your Majesty, I'm wronged! I'm innocent!"

The emperor demanded: "Wronged? You dare claim injustice to my face? Let's see if you still dare cry injustice once you're locked up in the Imperial City Bureau!"

With that, the emperor bellowed: "Guards! Strip Wang Kun of his title and throw him in the Imperial City Bureau prison! Lu Yunqi reported him and did a good deed—reward him with a thousand taels of gold and let him go free!"

By the time word reached Murong Jie, the Imperial City Bureau had already sent word for someone to come get Lu Yunqi.

It wasn't until the day Lu Yunqi got out of prison that Murong Jie finally figured out what he'd been up to. He knew what the emperor's brother-in-law Wang had done during the disaster relief, and he knew that if an ordinary citizen had cried out for justice—even if a noble had—the emperor wouldn't have looked into it so fast.

Only by throwing himself into the fire could Lu Yunqi force the emperor to get to the bottom of it all in just three days.

But Murong Jie didn't get it. Lu Yunqi's actions were totally out of character. What did the lives of northern refugees have to do with the young heir of Lord Nine Thousand Years?

He was known for nothing but eating, drinking, and living it up. The fact that he didn't bully men or kidnap women—only bullying Murong Jie—was already one of his few good qualities.

More importantly, Lu Yunqi's actions had accidentally done him a huge favor.

The Wang clan was powerful, the head of the empire's civil official bloc, and the great Confucian scholars were on their side too. But he needed the backing of the empire's literary world, which was why he'd made up the story of Fairy Liuyi's descendant.

He used Fairy Liuyi to split the three princes apart, then used the fame of her poetry collection to win over scholars everywhere, all to balance out the Wang clan.

The Wang clan's deeds had already pissed off the empire's scholars, and now this Wang Kun thing was likely to stir up another storm.

Murong Jie snorted coldly, and Xiao Hei appeared behind him: "Master, what are your orders?"

Murong Jie instructed: "Spread the word about Wang Kun. Make sure it reaches the great scholars' ears."

He wanted the empire's literary world to cut ties with the Wang clan!

Xiao Hei acknowledged and jumped out the window.

Liu Bao ran in grinning, all bowing and scraping: "Your Highness, the young heir's coming back today. Why don't you go pick him up?"

In the past, Murong Jie wouldn't have wanted to go. But today, Lu Yunqi had done him a huge favor, so he actually hesitated.

Liu Bao added: "The young heir adores you, Your Highness. If you go, he'll be thrilled."

Murong Jie's eyes darkened a little, but in the end, he got on the carriage and followed Liu Bao to the Imperial City Bureau prison to pick up Lu Yunqi.

Strangely enough, after several days in jail, Lu Yunqi came out spotless, with his hair neatly done and wearing fresh, nice clothes—not a trace of having been locked up.

The second he saw Murong Jie, he rushed over and grabbed his hand, grinning suggestively: "Wifey, did you miss your hubby?"

The Imperial City Bureau commander couldn't watch. He turned his head away, thinking this young master was something else—openly flaunting a gay relationship was practically unheard of.

Murong Jie didn't resist, just said calmly: "Let's go home."

Lu Yunqi chuckled: "Alright, alright, let's go home. Wow, I didn't think you'd come pick me up yourself, haha. Wife, you really do love me."

Calling him "wifey" and "wife" again—Murong Jie's head really hurt. He had no idea where Lu Yunqi learned those words.

Once they were in the carriage, Murong Jie finally asked: "Lu Yunqi, why did you do this? The northern refugees have nothing to do with you, right?"

Lu Yunqi sighed like he was helpless: "Here we go again. Didn't I tell you? I want to help you!"

"Help me?" Murong Jie frowned. "What does this have to do with me?"

Lu Yunqi said: "Didn't I tell you, hubby? Whatever you want, I'll find a way to get it for you. Whether it's the Lu family's six hundred thousand elite troops, or the riches and glory of this world, or even becoming the crown prince and taking the Eastern Palace—whatever you want, I'll do everything I can to help you get it."

What was the point of trying to win him over? Since that wasn't working, he might as well help him avoid detours. Maybe if he actually became emperor, the common folks would suffer a little less.

Murong Jie frowned: "And how would you know what I want?"

Lu Yunqi raised an eyebrow: "I know! Don't you want revenge? Maybe none of that other stuff matters to you, but revenge—you want that, right? I also know the first person you want to kill is me. But if you kill me, at least let me die for something. Even if you kill me, are you sure you can get the Lu family's six hundred thousand elite troops?"

In every past life, even when he'd successfully taken control of the Lu Family Army, fewer than two hundred thousand had truly followed his orders.

The Lu Family Army were all men of honor and grit, trained by Lu Tong himself. Most came from poor farming and working-class families. Lu Tong often gave up his entire fief income to save military rations for his soldiers.

Leading by example, his generals also treated their soldiers like their own children, and the entire Lu Family Army was as solid as an iron barrel.

So swallowing up the entire Lu Family Army was no easy task.

Seeing his silence, Lu Yunqi knew he had hit the mark. He chuckled softly: "So you see, we need to get married as soon as possible! Once we're officially husband and husband, after I die, you'll be half a son to my father. My father dotes on me. If I leave a will telling him to raise you as his heir, he'll definitely listen! Of course, if I'm alive, I'm even more valuable to you! Think about it—if I'm alive, the Lu Family Army will definitely all listen to me! Then when I tell them to help you, they'll all help you!"

Whether Murong Jie would take any of this to heart, Lu Yunqi had no idea, but he had to keep spinning his tale. It wasn't all empty talk—he was basing it on facts.

Seeing Murong Jie fall silent again, Lu Yunqi grabbed his arm and chuckled twice: "Think about what your husband said. It's all benefit and no harm for you, wifey!"

Murong Jie gave a faint snort and said: "Lu Yunqi, do you think I'd believe a word you say?"

Lu Yunqi raised his hand: "Fine, fine, don't believe me. Just watch my actions, alright? This time, the old emperor will definitely punish the Wang clan severely and force them to cough up money and grain to continue the relief efforts. But it's already too late—at the latest by tomorrow or the day after, the refugees will reach the capital. Let's set up a refugee relief station in advance, put a few big cauldrons there to serve porridge. We'll do it in your name, wifey. I'll foot the bill, you get the glory. Then who won't sing the praises of His Highness Prince Cang's benevolence?"

This was something Murong Jie could never have thought of—or rather, he would never have thought in that direction.

Because of his upbringing, he had long developed a cold, detached nature. He himself lived on thin ice, trembling with caution—how could he have the energy to consider others?

Though at that moment, he didn't really care. As long as he could get revenge, he would stop at nothing!

But hearing Lu Yunqi say this now, something stirred in his heart. If those refugees could truly be used for his purposes, it would indeed save him a lot of trouble.

But why should he accept Lu Yunqi's help?

Just as this thought rose in his mind, he suddenly remembered—last time, he had already accepted the fifty thousand troops Lu Yunqi had given him.

If fifty thousand troops were acceptable, why not the reputation being handed to him on a silver platter?

The wrongs Lu Yunqi had inflicted on him—wasn't this meager compensation more than enough?

Murong Jie closed his eyes and said only one word: "Fine."

That single word sent Lu Yunqi's spirits soaring. He shook Murong Jie's arm and said: "Ah, you've finally come around! Stick with your husband, and I guarantee you wealth, glory, and power in your grasp!"

As they spoke, the carriage stopped at the mansion gate. Lu Yunqi hopped out and immediately ordered Liu Bao to go build a porridge station outside the city gates that very night. Liu Bao took a dozen or so men and set up a sign reading: "Jie Jie Jie Porridge Station."

The name was a bit odd, but it was clear at a glance.

Lu Yunqi headed back to the Wanping Wasteland. In the few days he'd been gone, the wasteland had developed into an impressively organized scene, with over a hundred wooden cabins, making it look like a small village.

Looking at the points total, it had already reached one hundred thousand!

He stared in shock at the huge point total and the NPC count listed below it. Lu Yunqi had to admire Du Ze's management skills.

From a distance, the refugees who had been brought here earlier spotted him and rushed over to kowtow and thank him: "Master, you've returned! So you weren't lying to us after all. You really are a living saint who saves the suffering. We've never lived such a heavenly life in all our days."

During the day, people took them up the mountain to hunt. They held something in their hands—bang, bang, bang—and a few shots later, a wild boar was dead. They could kill several boars in a single day.

Although the pork wasn't handed out freely, anyone who participated in the work was paid. They called it "RMB."

They didn't understand it, but the money they received was colorful and pretty, and they could exchange it at shops marked with a store sign for all kinds of food.

The food inside came from what they hunted or what was grown on the land, paired with the rice the master had sent. For these three days, they had rarely been able to eat their fill every single day.

Lu Yunqi didn't like watching others kneel. Even though he had been reincarnated nine times in this world, that only came to about ten years in total. Since Murong Jie grew fast—from his rebirth to the other's success, it took at most a year or two.

He didn't step forward to help them up, only said: "Didn't your teachers ever teach you that in this place, there are no ranks? Everyone is equal, so there's no need for that kowtowing business. You may kneel to heaven, earth, and your parents, but never to others—that would be an insult to yourself!"